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In 1868, Samuel “Burk” Burnett (1849-1922) purchased 100 head of cattle branded with the “6666” (Four Sixes) mark from Frank Crowley of Denton and established a ranch in Wichita County. In 1893, Burnett began moving his operations further west. After buying the 141,000-acre “8” ranch in southeast King County from the Louisville Land and Cattle Company, he began moving cattle here in 1900. He registered his “6666” brand in the King County Courthouse in 1903 and sited the ranch headquarters in the town of Guthrie.
In 1917, Burnett began construction on a distinctive ranch house headquarters. He started his cattle empire through the importation of purebred Hereford and Durham bulls. The resulting offspring soon became consistent winners as feeder cattle in livestock shows nationwide. The 6666 Ranch quarter horses also became renown throughout the southwest.
Buildings on the ranch for cowboys and cattle included barns, corrals, bunkhouses and line camp quarters. The most operationally significant were the main residence (or headquarters) and the supply house in Guthrie, which served as a store, bank and social gathering point. Burnett dug water wells and installed windmills to provide water for livestock on the rangeland.
Fine cattle and champion horses still graze the lands of the 6666 Ranch and King County. The 6666 Ranch, which encompasses 275,000 acres, represents both the past and present. The foresight of Burk Burnett and the management and support of descendants secured the ranch’s place in the ranching history of the state and nation. |
